Educational construction member and unit

ABSTRACT

A toy construction unit including beams provided with panel receiving channels and dowel receiving openings. When these beams are employed as uprights in a structure such as a toy house, some panels may be inserted into the channels to provide walls, and others may cooperate with supporting dowels to provide window or other openings. Still other panels may provide supports for level boards used to horizontally divide space within the house.

[56] References Citing UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,492,560 5/1924 Fisher........................... 46/19 3,132,443 5/1964 46/19 Primary Examiner-Louis G. Mancene Assistant Examiner-Jack Q. Lever, Jr. Attorney-Bums, Doane, Be'nedipt, Swecker and Mathis A toy construction unit jnclu di n Bruce L. Gibb Casilla 16074, Correo ll, Providencia, Santiago, Chile 832,220 June 11,1969 [45] Patented Mar. 23, 1971 United States Patent [72] Inventor [21 Appl. No.

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EDUCATIONAL CONSTRUCTION MEMBER AND UNIT BACKGROUND OF 'r as INVENTION This invention relates to construction beams designed to provide flexibility in the creation of toy structures. In particular this invention relates to structural elements used as educational tools in the construction of toy structures such as houses.

Such building toys as have been proposed in the past employ channelled beam members,dowel connections, panels slidable in the channels and other such common features. However, it is usually the case that the final design of the building to be. constructed from these members is either predetermined or limited in selectivity.

It would, therefore, be highly desirable to provide construction elements capable of being integrated into a physicalunit, the form of which may be determined primarily by the skill and desire of the user. Advantageously, these elements would provide a valuable teaching aid insofar as they would enable a user, particularly a child, to understand abstract concepts about dimensions, space, and volume through assembly of the elements into a physical form desired. a

It would also be desirable to provide construction elements of varying sizes, weights and shapes, so as to enable the user to manipulate these objects in such a way as to develop motor skills. I

Moreover, it is particularly desirable that limitations on the flexibility of the assemblies to be realized from such elements be minimized so that-a maximum variety of aesthethic expression wouldbe available. 1

OBIECTS AND SUMMARY or THEAINVENTION It is therefore a general object of the invention to provide a construction element or elements capable of selective assembly into a unit in a manner that would achieve advantages of the sort previously noted. f

It is a particular object of the invention to provide a construction beam having channels and dowel receiving openings arranged in such relation to one another as to enhance the flexibility available in the construction of an integrated unit.

It is a related object of the invention to provide such a beam in combination with a variety of panels and dowels that'may be assembled into a toy house, the final design of which is primarily dependent upon the willof the user. I

It is still another object of the invention to provide a construction unit including channelled and apertured members that may be assembled with panel members in a variety of f A'preferred form of the invention intended to accomplish at least some of the foregoing objects includes an elongated construction beam provided with a plurality of spaced, longitudinally extending channels. In communication with these channels are a plurality of .dowel receiving openings.

For simplicity of understanding, a use of this beam will be described inconnection with a toy house, although other physical settings v(.eLg. vehicles, animals, abstract forms, or natural forms,'etc;) are contemplated. For use in these other physical settings it may be'desirable to provide the elongated beams, aswell as the channels, with a curvature or offset. In

such instances, the edges of panels cooperating withthe chart- The toy house comprises a foundation assembly and a roof assembly/The roof assembly and abase member of the foundation assembly are-provided with a plurality of aligned, transverse openings. Fastening frneans may be provided at each end of the elongated, channelled beams for securing these elements, in upright position, to the base member and to the roof assembly. A plurality of panels are insertable into the channels to provide walls or vertical dividers,'-as desired.

If openings or windows are to'be formed in such walls or dividers, a space may be provided between two vertically adjacent wall panelsby supporting the upper one of these panels openings which are in communication with the channels at the desired vertical level.

Horizontal division of space within the house may be accomplished by supporting horizontal level boards on channel received panels that are horizontally spaced. and generally vertically aligned.

In order to facilitate insertion of the panels into the assembled channels, the elongated beams may be provided with generally L-shaped insertion openings at one end. in a manner hereinafter more fully described.

THE DRAWINGS Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description of apreferred form thereof, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. I is a perspective view of a toy house with the beams of the present invention providing comer and interior uprights;

FIG. 2 is a broken away perspective view of a comer upright illustrated in FIG. 1';

FIG. 3 is a broken away perspective view of an interior upright illustrated in FIG. I;

a FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of a wall panel assembly;

FIG. 5 is a partialfront elevational view of a toy house with openings provided in the walls; I

FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view bolted to the floor assembly;

1 FIG. 7 is a perspective assembly view illustrating the use of horizontal dividers;

FIG. 8 is-a partial, crosssectional plan view of the assembled support panels for horizontal dividers; and

FIG. 9 is a partial front elevational view of a horizontal divider assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings, a partially assembled toy house 10 according to a preferred embodiment of the invention is there shown.

This house includes a foundation assembly 12 and a roof assembly 14. Both the foundation assembly and the roof assembly are provided with aplurality of transverse openings 16 and 16 that .are generally vertically aligned.

A plurality of-corner uprights 18 are received in the corner ones of the roof assembly openings 16' and bolted to the founof a corner upright dation assembly as hereinafter described. A selected number of interior uprights 20 are assembled in aligned interior ones of the roof and foundation openings 16' and I6.

The foundation assembly 12 includes a frame formed by a plurality of interconnected floor joists or beams 22. Four of these joists are joined together in any suitable manner to provide a generally rectangular frame. Several others are joined to parallel walls of the rectangular frame in any manner (FIG. 5). These latter floor joists are preferably evenly spaced from and parallel to one another.

A generally rectangular base plate 24 formed from pressed board or plywood, or the like, overlies the rectangular frame defined by the'floor joists and provides a floor to complete the foundation assembly. This base plate may be glued to the floor joists 22. If desired, .a border member 23 (FIG. I and 6) may be attached, as by gluing along one or more edges of the base of the foundation assembly to cover the interface between the base plate 24 and the floor joists 22.

' The previously identified foundation assembly openings I6 are provided in the base plate 24. Preferably, these openings, as well as the roof assembly openings I6, are regularly spaced. Several of the spaced openings are provided along the edges of the floor, as well as at the interior thereof.

The roof assembly 14 comprises a generally rectangular frame provided by a plurality of interconnected ceiling beams or joists 26. The spacing of these ceiling beams 26 is substantially identical to that of the floor joists 22. Four of these .on dowels. Thesedowels extend from the dowel receiving beams are joined together in any suitable manner. such as by flue glued mortise and tenon connections, to provide a generally rectangular frame. If desired, a base plate (not shown) may be glued to the roof assembly.

Along one edge of the ceiling frame, a roof support beam 28 is fixed, in any suitable manner, to the ceiling joist defining that edge.

A roof 30 comprising a rectangular member of corrugated plastic, fiberglass, or metal rests on the roof support beam 28 and on the edge of the ceiling joist opposite thereto. Thus, a generally sloped roof is provided. As illustrated, the overall extent of the roof 30 is preferably greater than that of the rectangular ceiling frame so that the roof projects therebeyond by a limited amount in all directions.

Each of the ceiling joists 26 is provided with a plurality of the upright receiving openings 16'. In the assembled house, these openings 16' are generally vertically aligned with the openings 16 in the floor plate 24, except for the fact that additional openings 16 are provided adjacent the comers of the roof assembly 14 while the floor corners are solid.

The illustrated comer uprights 18 are generally rectangular in cross section as is evident from the perspective view in FIG. 2. It will, however, be apparent that other shapes are acceptable. At one end, each corner upright includes a fastening projection 32, having a cross-sectional dimension substantially equal to the dimension of the corner receiving openings 16' in the ceiling. These projections 32 fasten the comer uprights to the ceiling joists 26. The other end of the comer uprights is fastened to the foundation assembly 12 by a threaded bolt 34 extending through the floor beams 22 (FIG. 6) and the base plate 24.

To assemble the house as indicated at FIG. 1, the generally rectangular floor subassembly joists 22 are first assembled. The base plate 24 is next rested thereon. The comer uprights 18 are then bolted, in vertical position, to the base plate 24. After securing the ceiling joists 26 in assembled position (for example by glued mortise and tenon joints), the roof assembly 14 may be positioned over the projections 32 at the upper end of the corner posts 18. Subsequently, the roof support board 28 and roof 30 may then be positioned as previously described.

It will be appreciated that the comer posts 18 in assembled position remain flush with the base plate 24 and the ceiling joists 26.

Each of the corner uprights 18 is provided with longitudinally extending slots or channels 36 along each of two adjacent side faces (FIG. 2). When the house is in the assembled position, these adjacent faces are positioned so that the channels 36 face the interior of the house.

A set of transversely opening receiving holes 38 (see FIG. communicate with each of the comer upright channels 36. These receiving holes are longitudinally spaced, with the spacing preferably being regular.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the interior uprights will be described in detail. These uprights are elongated and are generally rectangular in cross section (as seen in FIGS. 7 and 8) along the major portion thereof. As in the case of the comer uprights 18, it will be apparent that other shapes of interior uprights are acceptable.

Each of the sidewall faces is provided with a centrally located, longitudinally extending channel 40. A set of dowel receiving openings 42 extend irito the body of the upright in communication with each of these channels 40. These dowel receiving openings are longitudinally spaced, with the spacing preferably being equal as in the case of the comer uprights 18.

Each end of each interior upright is provided with end projections 44 and 46 of reduced cross-sectional area with respect to the remainder of the upright. These projections 44 and 46 are adapted to be inserted in the floor and ceiling holes 16 and 16' to maintain the interior uprights in vertical position.

In order to facilitate the positioning of the interior uprights within the house subsequent to assembly of the comer uprights and floor and ceiling assemblies, the distance D between the inner termini 44 and 46' of the projections 44 and 46 should be slightly less than the distance H between the floor and ceiling assemblies (FIG. 5). Moreover, this difference in distance M should be at least equal to the length of the bottom projection 46.

Thus, the interior uprights may be assembled by first inserting the upper projection 46 into one of the ceiling receiving holes 16' and then lifting the interior upright upwardly so as to become substantially flush with the ceilingjoist. Upon vertical alignment of the upright, it may be lowered so that the lower projection 46 is received within the floor receiving hole 16. Of course, the length of the upper projection 44 should be great enough so that a substantial portion thereof remains in the ceiling receiving aperture 16' when the upright is lowered so as to stabilize the upright in a vertical position. Also, the depth of the ceiling receiving aperture I6 should be sufficient to accommodate the upper projection 44 when the upright 20 is lifted prior to insertion of the bottom projection 46.

It will be appreciated that the channels 36 and 40 of adjacent ones of the interior and corner uprights are directly opposite one another and face one another when assembled. Since, in the illustrated embodiment the transverse cross-sectional area of the corner uprights I8 is greater than that of the interior uprights 20 (in order to provide for maximum stability and support by these comer uprights), the channels 36 in the comer uprights will be offset from the longitudinal center lines of each side face thereof so that they may line up with the centrally located channels 40 of the interior uprights.

As illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, a wall may be formed in the house between adjacent ones of the interior or corner uprights by wall panels 48 slidably received in the upright channels. These panels 48 each have a thickness substantially equal to the width of the channels 36 and 40, and the distance between the bottoms or bases of the channels of two assembled and adjacent uprights is substantially equal to the panel length.

If desired, a space 50 may be provided between adjacent panels 48 of the wall, to simulate a window opening or the like. The space is readily provided by supporting one wall panel 48 on dowels 52 located at a desired level above another panel. The dowels 52 project out of the channels and are tightly fitted in the dowel receiving openings 38 and 42 which communicate therewith.

Preferably, the dowels 52 have transverse cross sections substantially identical to those of the dowel receiving openings 38 and 42 so that they may be frictionally received therein. The lengths of the dowels are sufficient to project out of the channels, for ready insertion and removal.

Referring now to FIGS. 7, 8 and 9, it will be seen that horizontal division of space within the house may be selectively accomplished by means of level boards 53 resting on support panels 54 slidably received in the upright channels.

Each of the support panels 54 has a length substantially equal to the length of the wall panels and therefore to the distance between adjacent and facing channels. The height of the support panels 54, as well as that of the wall panels, is preferably equal to the vertical spacing between the dowel receiving openings 38 and 42 within a given channel.

Adjacent the side edges thereof, the wall panel thickness is substantially equal to the thickness of the channels. However, the thickness T of (FIG. 8) the remaining portion of the support panels is enlarged for added support surface area. When the support boards are inserted into the channels the ends thereof adjacent the zone where the thickness dimension changes will remain substantially flush with the adjacent uprights as indicated at 56 in FIG. 8.

Dowels 52 may be inserted in the dowel receiving openings of the uprights to maintain the support boards at the desired level. With at least two parallel support boards so maintained at the same vertical level between adjacent pairs of the uprights, a level board 53 rray be horizontally supported.

Each of these level boarcs 53 is generally rectangular, and is formed with square cutouts 58 at each corner to define projecting edges 60. When assembled, the cutouts 58 permit these projecting edges to rest on the thick upper surfaces of the support panels 54 as illustrated in phantom in FIG. 8. The length of each projection 60 is preferably less than half the thickness of the panel supportingsurface so that a plurality of level boards may be placed adjacent one another at the same horizontal level. Preferably, the edges 60 of assembled, adjacent level boards 53 do not extend to the center of the upright channels, as illustrated at 55 in FIG. 8. The space left between adjacent boards 53 should correspond to the width of the upright channel so that a wall panel 48 may be inserted in the upright channel and be supported by the support panel 54. Thus, a full wall of identical wall panels48 may be constructed without necessitating the provision of a shorter wall panel at the point where the uprights meet the ceiling assembly.

In order to facilitate insertion of the support panels 54 and the wall panels 48 into the channels 36 and 40 of assembled uprights, the upper end of the body portion of each interior upright is cut away, as indicated at 48, adjacent each of the channels 40. Each cutout provides a generally L-shaped insertion opening communicating with'the adjacent channels so that theback wall of each of these'rec'eiving openings is a continuation of the intemalwall of the channel as indicated at ,62

in FIG. 4. r

Thus, all panels are initially inserted into the oppositely facing channels of the adjacent uprights at the vertical position of these L-shaped receiving openings. v j

The panels may then be lowered from this location to the desired vertical position within the channel.

It will be appreciated that panel receiving openings may be located at positions along the uprights other than at the upper ends thereof. Howeven-when located at that end, the height of the cutout forming the opening may be reduced to a dimension less than the height of the largest panel to be received by an amount equal to the distance M (FIG. 5) between the roof assembly 14 and the inner terminus of the upper projection 44. I

It will also be appreciated that the spacing between the longitudinally spaced dowel receiving openings 38 and 42 in each of the uprights 18 and 20 is preferably equal to the height dimensions of the wall and support panels 48 and 54. Moreover, the apparatus is constructed so that the dowel receiving openings in adjacent ones of the assembled uprights are registered in substantially the same horizontal plane. However, other spacings may be provided as desired.

In the preferred and illustrated embodiment, at least one dowel receiving opening 42 is offset laterally from the others in the vicinity of the L-shaped receiving slot. This dowel receiving opening 42 extends into the body portion of the uprightand communicates with the receiving opening. The amount of lateral offset should be sufficient so that a dowel may be inserted therein so as to frictionally maintain a wall panel 48 in place at that vicinity to provide a completely closed wall.

If desired, the wall and support boards, as well as the level boards, may be painted with washable paint or may be unpainted but prefinished so that the user may paint them himself. Preferably, the exposed structural surfaces of the uprights and the floor and ceiling assemblies are sanded and varnished to natural color.

To provide realism in the finished toy house assembly, the overall dimensions of the house may be approximately 80 X 60 X 60 inches.

SUMMARY OF ADVANTAGES It will be seen that in the following the present invention, the movable pieces that may be assembled into a construction unit permit the user to build and modify horizontal and vertical surfaces, spaces, boxes and cubes of any size within the range of the size of the basic building pieces and the overall dimensions of the unit.

Of particular significance is the use of uprights provided with channels and dowel receiving openings communicating therewith so as to provide a great deal of flexibility in construction.

Also of importance is the receiving slot communicating with the channels so that wall panels and support panels may be selectively assembled and disassembled without the need for removal of interior uprights.

Although the invention has been described with reference to one preferred illustrated embodiment, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that additions, modifications, substitutions, deletions and other changes not specifically described may be made which fall within the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A toy house comprising:

a generally rectangular base member, said base member being provided with a plurality of openings;

a foundation assembly for supporting said base member;

a roof assembly, said roof assembly being provided with a plurality of openings generally aligned with said openings in said base member; r

a plurality of elongated comer uprights having four side faces, each of said corner uprights being provided with:

a generally longitudinally extending outwardly facing channel in each of two adjacent ones of said faces;

a plurality of sets of transversely opening, dowel receiving holes, each set being spaced generally longitudinally along the base of one of said channels;

means for securing said comer uprights to said foundation assembly, said roof assembly and said base member, with said two adjacent faces facing generally inwardly of said base member;

a plurality of interior uprights having four side faces. each of said interior uprights being provided with: generally longitudinally extending outwardly facing channels on each of said side faces;

a plurality of sets of transversely opening, dowel receiving holes spaced generally longitudinally along the base of each of said channels; and

projections at each end of each said uprights, said projections being receivable in said aligned openings in said base member and said roof assembly;

a plurality of panels insertable in the channels of adjacent selected ones of said uprights; and

support dowels insertable in said dowel receiving openings of adjacent selected ones of said uprights for supporting selected ones of said panels.

2. A toy house according to claim 1 wherein each of said interior uprights is provided, adjacent one end, with an insertion cutout communicating with said channels, for permitting insertion of said panels into said channels while said projections of said interior uprights are assembled within said aligned openings in said roof assembly and said base member.

3. A toy house according to claim I including: level boards for horizontally dividing space within the toy house, said level boards having edges dimensioned for support by selected ones of said panels.

4. A construction unit comprising:

a plurality of generally elongated members provided with:

a plurality of generally longitudinally spaced, transversely opening, dowel receiving openings; and

a plurality of generally radially spaced and generally longitudinally extending, transversely opening channels, said dowel receiving openings being positioned to open into said channels;

a support assembly;

complementary means on said generally elongated members and said support assembly for securing said elongated members to said support assembly in spaced relationship;

a plurality of panels receivable in said channels and dimensioned so as to be extendable into channels of at least some adjacent ones of said generally elongated members; and

5. A construction unit according to claim 4 including: divider members dimensioned to extend between and be supported by at least two selected ones of said panels. 

1. A toy house comprising: a generally rectangular base member, said base member being provided with a plurality of openings; a foundation assembly for supporting said base member; a roof assembly, said roof assembly being provided with a plurality of openings generally aligned with said openings in said base member; a plurality of elongated corner uprights having four side faces, each of said corner uprights being provided with: a generally longitudinally extending outwardly facing channel in each of two adjacent ones of said faces; a plurality of sets of transversely opening, dowel receiving holes, each set being spaced generally longitudinally along the base of one of said channels; means for securing said corner uprights to said foundation assembly, said roof assembly and said base member, with said two adjacent faces facing generally inwardly of said base member; a plurality of interior uprights having four side faces, each of said interior uprights being provided with: generally longitudinally extending outwardly facing channels on each of said side faces; a plurality of sets of transversely opening, dowel receiving holes spaced generally longitudinally along the base of each of said channels; and projections at each end of each said uprights, said projections being receivable in said aligned openings in said base member and said roof assembly; a plurality of panels insertable in the channels of adjacent selected ones of said uprights; and support dowels insertable in said dowel receiving openings of adjacent selected ones of said uprights for supporting selected ones of said panels.
 2. A toy house according to claim 1 wherein each of said interior uprights is provided, adjacent one end, with an insertion cutout communicating with said channels, for permitting insertion of said panels into said channels while said projections of said interior uprights are assembled within said aligned openings in said roof assembly and said base member.
 3. A toy house according to claim 1 including: level boards for horizontally dividing space within the toy house, said level boards having edges dimensioned for support by selected ones of said panels.
 4. A construction unit comprising: A plurality of generally elongated members provided with: a plurality of generally longitudinally spaced, transversely opening, dowel receiving openings; and a plurality of generally radially spaced and generally longitudinally extending, transversely opening channels, said dowel receiving openings being positioned to open into said channels; a support assembly; complementary means on said generally elongated members and said support assembly for securing said elongated members to said support assembly in spaced relationship; a plurality of panels receivable in said channels and dimensioned so as to be extendable into channels of at least some adjacent ones of said generally elongated members; and a plurality of dowels receivable in said dowel receiving openings and dimensioned to extend transversely outwardly into said channels for supporting selected ones of said panels.
 5. A construction unit according to claim 4 including: divider members dimensioned to extend between and be supported by at least two selected ones of said panels. 